Sport and Recreation Facility Management

Description

In the two-year Sport and Recreation Facility Management Diploma Program, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills required for successful careers in recreation and facility management. Program courses integrate both theoretical concepts with practical applications, so that you’ll focus on the effective operation and management of municipal, private, and commercial recreation facilities. You’ll build the essential business and administrative skills required for the day-to-day operations in a sport and recreational facility, as well as knowledge of safety standards and risk planning to support the safe management of facilities. As a graduate of this program, you’ll develop the leadership and organizational skills necessary to manage a wide range of facility operations, from ice management to recreation planning, in environments ranging from community centers to sports complexes. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program are eligible for such positions as:

• Sport and Recreation Facility Operator
• Municipal Program Coordinator/Planner
• Outdoor Recreation Facility Operator
• Pool and Ice Facility Operator
• Intercollegiate Athletic and Recreation staff
• Sport Organization Coordinator
• Sport and Recreation Facility Planner

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. plan, coordinate, and evaluate sporting events to support organizations strategic planning process;
2. manage budgets and staffing requirements within sport and recreational facilities to ensure effective operations;
3. use digital marketing tools to strengthen partnerships with sports organizations and boost brand visibility;
4. develop maintenance plans for sport facilities to support sustainability goals and optimize efficiencies;
5. use service strategies in sport and recreation settings to enhance customer satisfaction;
6. apply conflict resolution and motivational strategies to foster collaboration among clients, staff, and volunteers;
7. draft and negotiate contracts and RFPs to align with the budgetary and operational needs of a sport and recreation facility;
8. operate booking systems to coordinate facility usage and support efficient service delivery to recreation members;
9. adhere to risk management policies and procedures to optimize the safety and efficiency of sport and recreation facility operations;
10. analyze financial and operational data to inform strategic planning and improve fiscal management in recreational facilities;
11. create personal and professional development plans to support ongoing learning in sport and recreation management. 

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2026
• Sem 2: Winter 2027
• Sem 3: Fall 2027
• Sem 4: Winter 2028

Winter Intake

• Sem 1: Winter 2027
• Sem 2: Fall 2027
• Sem 3: Winter 2028
• Sem 4: Fall 2028

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Any Grade 11¹ or 12 Mathematics (C,M or U)

¹ Minimum of 60% in Grade 11 College or University level Mathematics (MBF3C or MCF3M)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Graduation Requirements

16 Program Courses
1 Option Course
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses
2 Field Placements

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
COMP 1058	Technology in Administration	42
REAS 2003	Research in Recreation and Sport	42
RECR 1001	Program Planning	42
RECR 1010	Introduction to Sport and Recreation Facility Management	42
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the Communications list during registration.		42
General Education
Select 1 course from the General Education list during registration.		42
	Hours	252
Semester 2
Program Courses
FNCE 1003	Financial Analysis	42
MKTG 1000	Introduction to Marketing	42
RECR 1002	Event Planning	42
RECR 1011	Pool Operations	42
Communications Course
COMM 2021	Dynamic Presentations	42
General Education
Select one course from the General Education list during registration.		42
	Hours	252
Semester 3
Program Courses
RECR 2003	Sport and Recreation Administration	42
RECR 2005	Sport and Recreation Facility Operations	42
RECR 2019	Ice Operations	42
SPRT 2000	Sales, Fundraising and Sponsorship	42
SPRT 2001	Leagues, Tournaments and Events	42
Field Placement
SPRT 2005	Career Preparation	90
	Hours	300
Semester 4
Program Courses
RECR 2020	Outdoor Facility Management	42
RECR 2021	Safety and Risk Management	42
RECR 2022	Facility Planning and Design	42
General Education
Select 1 General Education course from the list during registration.		42
Option Course
Select 1 course from the Option list during registration.		42
Field Placement
SPRT 2006	Career Readiness	90
	Hours	300
	Total Hours	1104

Course List

Code	Title
Option Courses
RECR 2004	Trends in Sport
RECR 2016	Professional Opportunities and Issues
TOUR 2014	Sports Tourism

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.